Background:
While dialysis patients are considered at high risk for influenza-related complications, their vaccination coverage remains uncertain. In 2017 a multicentric study recruited 10 Italian dialysis centers in order to explore knowledge and attitudes on flu vaccination practice and to estimate coverage among dialysis patients.
Materials and methods:
A previously validated questionnaire was administered from March to July 2017 patients of ten Italian dialysis centers. The tool investigated: adhesion to autumn 2016 vaccination campaign, perceived risks of complications and hospitalization, perceived importance of general practitioner (GP) and nephrologist in determining the final decision on vaccination. Patients unable to provide valid consent, <18 years or with a language barrier were excluded.
Results:
703 patients were enrolled; 404 declared they got vaccinated in autumn 2016 vaccination campaign (57.5%). Both univariate and multivariate analysis showed that age >65 and male gender were positively associated with the adherence to the vaccination campaign (p < 0.05); older age (over 65 category) had the biggest impact (OR 3.7; 95% CI 2.5-5.5); on the other hand, the use of Internet was negatively related (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.7). A statistically significant difference in vaccination rates between the patients that were informed by the GP and/or nephrologist and the ones who weren’t was found (p < 0.001).
Discussion:
The survey highlights that the vaccination coverage of dialysis patients is still lower than expected. The higher coverage in > 65 years seems to show that age-related recommendation prevails over pathology-related recommendation among dialysis patients. Internet appears not to contribute to increase knowledge and awareness of risks. For all these reasons, investing more in the informative campaigns for chronic patients and involving specialists in attentive recommendation during vaccination campaign, could be worthy.
